Marcus Mariota primed and ready | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota has a quarterback rating of 105.4 during prime time games. He is 2-1 in those games. Mariota ranks fifth among quarterbacks with a minimum of three starts.

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At left, in a Nov. 5, 2017, file photo, Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) looks to throw a pass against the Baltimore Ravens during an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn. At right, the No. 1 prime time Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger (7), throws against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis.

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PITTSBURGH >>

As a young, aspiring quarterback since his Nuuanu Elementary School days, Marcus Mariota relished watching prime time NFL telecasts with his family.

And, now, that he’s gotten to the NFL, he’s been making the most of the stage.

Mariota is 2-1 in prime time appearances as he leads the Tennessee Titans (6-3) against Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2) today in a 3:25 p.m. (Hawaii Time) Thursday Night Football contest on NBC and the NFL Network. It is also being streamed by Amazon Prime.

In his third NFL season, Mariota’s quarterback ranking in prime time games since 2015, 105.4, puts him fifth among quarterbacks, behind Roethlisberger, a two-time Super Bowl winner, Matt Ryan, Tom Brady and Drew Brees.

Mariota has completed 70.8 percent of his passes in those games for 807 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He has also run for a touchdown.

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PRIME TIME QUARTERBACKS

(QBs in prime time games since 2015)

PLAYER C-ATT % YDS TD INT RATING

1. Ben Roethlisberger 130-192 67.7 1,853 17 3 121.7

2. Matt Ryan 140-203 69.0 1,662 12 2 109.3

3. Tom Brady 279-427 65.3 3,546 26 5 106.6

4. Drew Brees 195-267 73.0 1,964 12 2 105.5

5. Marcus Mariota 63-89 70.8 807 3 1 105.4

Note: Minimum 3 starts.

Source: Tennessee Titans

Yet, for all the glare that comes with the prime time showings and the Titans’ best start since 2009, Mariota maintains he doesn’t attach any extra pressure to them, even in this battle of AFC South and AFC North Division leaders at Heinz Field.

“I really just take them all the same, I don’t weigh one heavier than the others,” Mariota told the media after Tuesday’s practice. “I look forward to this opportunity with Pittsburgh and can’t wait to play.”

It comes in a short week, three days after suffering left (non-throwing) shoulder and ankle injuries Sunday against Cincinnati.

“I feel good,” Mariota declared.

With the short week, and coming off a game in which Mariota was sacked four times by the Bengals, execution will be at a premium against a Steelers unit that ranks second in the NFL in overall defense and pass defense.

The Steelers have 29 sacks, second most in the league, and two of them are by defensive end Tyson Alualu, a fellow Saint Louis School graduate.

“They find ways to get pressure from a lot of different angles,” Mariota said. “They find ways to scheme you up and cause matchup problems. For us, we’ll have to communicate and make sure everyone is on the same page.”

Titans’ coach Mike Mularkey said, “Their pass defense IS their rush. You’ve got to block these guys. They’ve got a complicated scheme like we do. (We’ve got) our hands full.”